The BBC
Two RAF engineers who broke a Paddington statue have been told by a judge they are the “antithesis” of everything the bear stands for.
Daniel Heath and William Lawrence, both 22 and based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire, each admitted an offence of criminal damage at Reading Magistrates’ Court.
The statue was recovered by police
The statue in Newbury, Berkshire, was damaged before being taken shortly after 02:00 GMT on 2 March.
The pair, who committed the offence while drunk on a night out, have been ordered to carry out unpaid work and each pay £2,725 to cover the cost of repairs.
CCTV footage was shown in court in which Heath, of Oakhall Park, Thornton, near Bradford in West Yorkshire, and Lawrence, of John Street, Enderby, Leicestershire, could be seen stopping by the Paddington Bear statue on Northbrook Street and attempting to lift it off the bench.
The seam of the statue then broke off and the pair could be seen walking off with the broken half.
The judge said the men then took it in a taxi back to RAF Odiham.
Thames Valley Police confirmed the statue did appear for sale on Facebook marketplace, but did not investigate further as it was recovered from the boot of Lawrence’s car soon after.
